Revisiting Nitric Oxide Signaling: Where Was It, and Where Is It Going?
Michael A. Marletta
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) has long been known to be an intermediate in bacterial pathways of denitrification. Only in the middle to late 1980s was it found to play a central role in a much broader biological context. For example, it is now well established that NO acts as a signaling agent in metazoans, including humans, yet NO is toxic and very reactive under biological conditions. How is the biology in which NO plays a role controlled? How is NO used and the inherent toxicity avoided? Looking back at the initial discovery time, to the present, and on to the future provides many answers to questions such as those listed above.
Topics & Concepts
Nitric oxideContext (archaeology)Signal transductionDenitrificationBiologyChemistryComputational biologyCell biologyPaleontologyNitrogenOrganic chemistryEndocrinologyNitric Oxide and Endothelin EffectsHemoglobin structure and functionNeuroscience of respiration and sleep